Platform Power Limit Control for Dynamic APU Power Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices often allocate excessive electrical power to components to account for rare maximum power states, leading to inefficient power usage and suboptimal performance due to unused power allocations.
Innovation Solution
A platform boost and throttle (PBT) controller dynamically adjusts operating parameters of electronic device elements by reallocating electrical power based on current consumption versus allocated limits, temporarily increasing power to active elements and reducing it for idle ones to optimize performance and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical power is allocated based on worst-case maximum power states, then reliability is improved, but use of energy deteriorates due to considerable unused power allocations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power allocation by continuously monitoring actual power consumption of processors and adjusting power distribution in real-time. The system transitions from static worst-case allocation to dynamic allocation that adapts to current operational demands, allowing power to be reassigned from idle components to active ones, thereby improving both reliability and energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where power consumption data from processors is continuously monitored and fed back to the power management unit. This feedback loop enables the system to detect when allocated power is not being utilized and automatically reassign that power to components with higher demand, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable power supply and improving energy efficiency
2Reliability
If electrical power is allocated to ensure adequate power for maximum operating states, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to suboptimal performance from unused power allocations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic power reallocation that responds to changing performance demands. When processors require additional power for high-performance operations, the system can rapidly reassign power from idle components, ensuring both adequate power supply for reliability and optimal performance when needed, thus improving productivity without sacrificing reliability
3Device complexity
If fixed power allocations are assigned to processors and memories, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates as power cannot be dynamically adjusted to meet changing demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal power management approach where the power management unit can dynamically serve multiple functions: monitoring power consumption, calculating power availability, making allocation decisions, and controlling power distribution to various processors and memories. This multi-functional system provides both simplified operation and high adaptability, resolving the contradiction between reducing complexity and increasing flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes an accelerated processing unit (APU) and multiple elements. The APU performs operations for a platform boost and throttle (PBT) controller. For the operations, the APU receives a platform electrical power limit, the platform electrical power limit being a limit on a total electrical power allowed to be consumed by a group of the elements at a given time. The APU then determines a present platform electrical power consumption. The APU next adjusts one or more operating parameters for specified elements from among the group of elements to control electrical power consumption by the specified elements based on a relationship between the present platform electrical power consumption and the platform electrical power limit.